The Deathlok comic books definitive issue-by-issue collecting guide and trade reading order for omnibus, hardcover, and trade paperback collections. Find every issue and appearance! A part of Crushing Krisis’s Crushing Comics. Last updated October 2017 with titles scheduled for release through March 2018.
Deathlok has a curious history in the Marvel Universe.
The character was originally introduced in 1974 as Luther Manner, an American soldier reanimated in the future as a cyborg and then sent back to the past Terminator-style (but, years before the first Terminator movie!). This time-displaced Deathlok I [CBDB] has made only limited appearances after his initial run of stories in the 70s and 80s.
After the appearance of a short-lived, all-robotic Deathlok II [CBDB], third and fourth versions were introduced in rapid succession. Deathlok III [CBDB] was John Kelly, whose human brain interfered with his Deathlok mission and was promptly terminated.
Deathlok IV [CBDB], Michael Collins, replaced Kelly as the consciousness in that unit and anchored his own series – struggling to contain the more murderous urges of his cyborg body’s programming.
Late in that series, we meet Deathlok V [CBDB] – present-day Luther Manning. An unrelated Deathlok VI [CBDB] is introduced as part of a 1990s X-Men crossover meant as a launching-pad for a trio of tech-focused heroes.
A decade later, Wolverine encounters a potential future seemingly inhabited entirely by Deathlok versions of heroes like Captain America and Spider-Man. Luckily, one self-conscious and seemingly unfamiliar unit stood against them (again, cribbing from Terminator – only this time Terminator actually happened first). This Deathlok VII [CBDB] – known as Unit L17 – joins Wolverine’s covert X-Force team, and later becomes a guest-instructor at the Jean Grey Institute.
With Deathlok appearing in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. television show, the core concept of a human soldier made into a killer robot seems to be entrenched firmly in Marvel’s narrative. A new title was launched with Deathlok VIII [CBDB] to more-closely align to the show.
We even met a female version in 2013 – AKA Deathlocket [CBDB] – in Avengers Arena (but she’s not tracked in this guide).
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- 1970s: D-I & D-II
- 1980s: D-I & D-II
- 1990s: D- I, III, IV, V, & VI
- 2000s: D- I, II, IV, V, VI, & VII
- Marvel Now: D- IV & D-VII
- All-New Marvel Now: D- I, IV, V, VII, & VIII
- All-New, All-Different Marvel: D- VIII
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1970s: Deathloks I & II
1974-1977 – Astonishing Tales #25 is the first appearance of Deathlok I – Future Luther Manning (D-I)
Marvel Masterworks: Deathlok, Vol. 1 (D-I)
Includes Deathlok stories from Astonishing Tales #25-28 & 30-36, Marvel Team-Up #46, Marvel Spotlight #33, Marvel Two-In-One #27 & 54, and Captain America #286-288.
Deathlok The Demolisher: The Complete Collection (D-I)
Includes the same contents as the Marvel Masterworks volume, above.
Astonishing Tales (1970) #25-28 & 30-36 (D-I)
The Deathlok stories from this run are collected in Masterworks and Complete, above, and nowhere else. #25 is collected on its own with Uncanny X-Force, Vol. 2: Deathlok Nation – see Uncanny X-Force.
Marvel Team-Up (1972) #46 (D-I): Essential Marvel Team-Up Vol. 2
Also collected in Masterworks and Complete, above.
What If? (1977) #1: What If? Classic, Vol. 1
While most What If? issues are strictly not in continuity, since Deathlok I is from an alternate future this could be conceived as an in-continuity appearance.
Marvel Spotlight (1971) #33 (D-I)
Only collected in Masterworks and Complete, above.
Marvel Two-In-One (1974) #26-28, 32 & 34 (D-I): Essential Marvel Two-In-One, Vol. 2
Issue #26 includes only a final splash page appearance. Issue #27 is the actual team-up (though it’s more of a fight) and is also collected in Masterworks and Complete, above. Issues #28 and 32 are merely single-panel cameos of an unconscious Deathlok, while #34 devotes a page to getting his plot back in gear (though it would be over a year before that came to fruition). Issue #32 also appears in Essential Spider-Woman, Vol. 1.
1979 – Marvel Two-In-One (1974) #53 is the first appearance of Deathok II – Robot (D-II)
Marvel Two-In-One (1974) #53-54 & 57 (D-II): The Thing: Project Pegasus
Issue #53 is another final-page cameo, and issue #54 is the actual team-up as collected in Masterworks and Complete, above, and in Essential Marvel Two-In-One, Vol. 3. Issue #57 only shows Deathlok in flashback via a video recording. However, the complete Pegasus story is collected here – #42-43 & 53-58.
1980s: Deathloks I & II
1982 – Marvel Fanfare (1982) #4 (2nd story) (D-I) – Though this issue has been re-collected, it did not include the backup.
1983 – Captain America (1968) #286-289 (D-I) (D-II, #287-only) – See Captain America, but also collected in Masterwork, above. Issue #289 is merely a brief flashback recollection – not a true appearance.
1984 – Ka-Zar the Savage (1981) #34 (D-I) – This is a one-off joke and not a continuity appearance.
1985 – Marvel Fanfare (1982) #23 (D-I) – This is a pin-up.
1990s: Deathloks I, III, IV, V, & VI
1990 – Deathlok (1990) #1 is the first appearance of Deathlok IV – Michael Collins (D-IV). Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #62 is the first appearance of Deathok III – John Kelly (D-III), later known as Siege.
Deathlok: The Living Nightmare of Michael Collins
Introducing Deathlok D-IV in Deathlok #1-4 and Marvel Comics Presents #62
Deathlok (1990) #1-4 (D-IV)
Only collected in Living Nightmare, above.
Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #62 (D-III)
Story only collected in Living Nightmare, above. This issue was released after the mini-series above, but it established the continuity of Deathlok III.
1991
Deathlok Special – This series is a straight reprint of the 1990 mini-series, above.
Damage Control, Vol. 3 #4 (D-IV) – Not collected
Deathlok: The Souls of Cyber-Folk
Collects Deathlok (1991) #1-15 & Annual 1
Deathlok (1991) #1-5 (D-IV) – In “Souls of” above
Sleepwalker (1991) #7 (D-IV)
Quasar #27 (D-IV)
Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (1989) #30-31 (D-IV) – Classic, Vol. 3
Includes #24-35
Deathlok (1991) #6-7 (D-IV) – In “Souls of” above
1992
Spider-Man (1990) #20-23 (D-IV) – See Spider-Man.
Sleepwalker (1991) #8 (D-IV) – Not collected
Deathlok (1991) #8 (D-IV) – In “Souls of” above
Daredevil (1964) Annual 08 – See Marvel Universe Events: 1992 Annual Crossovers.
The Avengers (1963) Annual 21 (D-I) – See Avengers
Deathlok I appears, possibly in his native future (since this is a Kang story)
Deathlok (1991) #9-15 & Annual 1 (D-IV) – In “Souls of” above
Deathlok (1991) #16 – Part of Infinity War. See Marvel Universe Events for collection information apart from Deathlok collections.
Infinity War – See Marvel Universe Events. Deathlok IV appears in #5.
Silver Sable and the Wild Pack (1992) #6-7 (D-IV) – Not collected
Portions of Deathlok #30 can be read here in continuity.
Deathlok (1991) #17-18 (D-III) (D-IV) – Not collected
Overkill (1992) #15 (D-IV) – This may not fit here in continuity.
1993 – Deathlok (1991) #25 is the first appearance of Deathlok V – Present Day Luther Manning (D-V)
Deathlok (1991) #19-21 (D-III) (D-IV) – Not collected
Digitek #1-3 (D-IV) – Not collected. A Marvel UK series.
Silver Sable and the Wild Pack #11-12 (D-III) – Not collected
Deathlok (1991) #23-25 (D-IV) – Not collected
Spider-Man: Maximum Carnage (D-IV) – See Spider-Man. Deathlok appears in Amazing #379, Spider-Man #36, Web of #103, Amazing #380, Spider-Man #37, Spectacular #203
Deathlok #26-30 & Annual 2 (D-III) (D-IV) (D-V)
Not collected. Annual 2 falls between #26-27. Deathlok III appears in 27-29 and Annual 2. Deathlok V appears in #25-27 & 29. #30 fits into earlier continuity, as noted above.
Infinity Crusade – See Marvel Universe Events. Deathlok IV appears in Infinity Crusade #6 during Deathlok #29.
Marvel Holiday Special (1991) #1992 (D-I) – This may not fit here in continuity.
1994
Iron Man (1968) #301 (D-IV) – See Iron Man
Morbius: The Living Vampire (1992) #18-19 (D-IV) – Not collected
Deathlok (1991) #31-34 (D-I) (D-III) (D-IV) (D-V) – Not collected
Daredevil #321-323 (D-III)- See Daredevil
This was published in 1993 but falls after the end of Deathlok’s series in continuity.
Daredevil #325 & 330 (D-III)- See Daredevil
This is D-III’s final appearance as of this writing.
War Machine (1994) #1-3 (D-IV) – War Machine Classic, Vol. 1
Includes #1-7 and Ashcan edition
Silver Sable and the Wild Pack (1992) #30 (D-IV) – Not collected
1995
Secret Defenders (1993) #22-25 (D-IV) – See Defenders
Spider-Man: Power of Terror (1995) #1-4 (D-IV)
This is a Deathlok team-up story. See Spider-Man
Deathlok IV’s in-continuity appearances end here and resume in 2006 in Beyond.
Daredevil (1964) #335-337 (D-I) – See Daredevil
1996
War Machine (1994) #24 (D-IV) – This may be a flashback or other non-continuity appearance. It is included in Avengers: The Crossing Omnibus. See Avengers.
Marvel Fanfare (1996) #1 (D-I) – Not collected. No primarily a Deathlok story.
1997
Coober Skeber (1997) #2 – ‘The Marvel Benefit Issue’ (D-I) – This peculiar one-shot was released by another company.
1998 – Cable #59 is the first appearance of Deathok VI – Jack Truman (D-VI)
Cable (1993) #59-62 (D-VI) – See Cable
Uncanny X-Men (1963) #371 & X-Men (1991) #91 & Annual 1999 (D-VI) – See directly below!
Deathlok (1999) #1-11 (D-VI) – Deathlok: Rage Against the Machine
Continues to 2000. Also collects a preceding crossover in X-Men consisting of Cable (1993) 59-62, Uncanny X-Men (1963) 371, X-Men (1991) 91, X-Men Annual ’99, and material from Cable (1993) 58
2000s: Deathloks I, II, IV, V, VI, & VII
2000
Deathlok (1999) #6-11 (D-VI) – See directly above.
Avengers Forever (1998) #12 (D-II) – See Avengers
2001-2003
Paradise X: Heralds (2001) #1-3 (D-I)
This story is not in-continuity, but includes the original in-continuity D-I.
Paradise X (2002) #1-4 & 6-10 (D-I)
This story is not in-continuity, but includes the original in-continuity D-I.
2006
Beyond! (2006) #1-6 (D-IV)
Also available in hardcover.
2007
Fantastic Four (1961) #544-546 (D-IV) – See Fantastic Four
Black Panther (2005) #26-27 (D-IV) – See Black Panther
Spider-Man Family (2007) #3 (D-I) – See Spider-Man
New Avengers (2005) #33 & 35-36 (D-II) – See New Avengers
This is D-II’s final appearance as of this writing.
2010 – Wolverine: Weapon X (2009) #11 is the first appearance of Deathlok VII – Unit L17 (D-VII)
Deathlok (2010) #1-7 (D-V) – Deathlok: The Demolisher
Also available in hardcover.
Wolverine: Weapon X (2009) #11-15 (D-VII) – See Wolverine
2011
Uncanny X-Force (2010) #5-10 (D-VII)
See Uncanny X-Force. This is a Deathlok-centric arc!
Vengeance (2011) #1 & 3-5 (D-VI) – Vengeance Oversize Hardcover
This is D-VI’s final appearance at this time.
Avengers Academy (2010) #11 (D-I) – See Avengers Academy
Uncanny X-Force (2010) #14-18 (D-VII) – See Uncanny X-Force. D-VII is a featured character, though not as significant in this arc – the end of the Dark Angel Saga.
Deathloks IV & VII in Marvel Now (2012 – 2013)
2012
Wolverine and The X-Men (2011) #4 (D-VII) – See Wolverine and The X-Men. Deathlok is a teacher at the Jean Grey School, which is usually played for brief gags.
Secret Avengers (2010) #29 (D-VII) – See Secret Avengers
Uncanny X-Force (2010) #28 & 31 (D-VII) – See Uncanny X-Force. D-VIII is a significant character in these issues.
Wolverine and The X-Men (2011) #14-15 & 17-19 (D-VII) – See Wolverine and The X-Men
2013
Wolverine and The X-Men (2011) #24 (D-VII) – See Wolverine and The X-Men
Cable And X-Force (2013) #4 (D-VII) – See Cable
Deathlok I, IV, V, VII, & VIII in All-New Marvel Now (2014 – 2015)
2014 – Original Sins #1 is the first appearance of Deathlok VIII – Henry Hayes (D-VIII). He appears nowhere else in the crossover.
Fantastic Four (2014) #3 (D-VII) – See Fantastic Four. This is a brief reference.
Superior Spider-Man #32 (D-VII) – See Spider-Man
All-New Invaders #8 (D-I) & 9-10 (D-V): All-New Invaders Volume 2: Original Sin
Collects #6-10. See Namor for more information.
This is D-I’s final appearance as of this writing.
Fantastic Four (1961) #643 (D-VII) – See Fantastic Four
This is D-VII’s final appearance as of this writing.
Deathlok #1-5 – Vol. 1: Control. Alt. Delete. (D-VIII)
D-IV and D-V are recurring co-stars. Also includes material from Original Sins #1 – D-VIII’s debut.
Deathlok #6-10 – Vol. 2: Man vs. Machine (D-VIII)
D-IV is a recurring co-star. D-V appears in #6-7.
This is D-IV’s final appearance as of this writing.
This is D-V’s final appearance as of this writing.
Deathlok VIII, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. – All-New, All-Different Marvel (2016 – present)
All-New, All-Different Point One (2015) #1 (D-VIII) – This is a S.H.I.E.L.D. story
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2016) #1-6 (D-VIII): Vol. 1: The Coulson Protocols
Also collects the Point One material
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2016) #5-10 (D-VIII): Vol. 2: Under New Management
New Avengers (2015) #8 (D-VIII): See Avengers & New Avengers
Power Man and Iron Fist (2016) #7-9 (D-VIII): See Luke Cage
Rocket Raccoon & Groot (2016) #8 (D-VIII): See Guardians of the Galaxy
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